What About a Ferret Hammock?
A large part of a ferret’s life is dedicated to sleep. A typical adult ferret sleeps 15-20 hours per day. Soft, dark areas are their favorite hiding place. It is important to provide a comfortable place for them to sleep and hide in. When we sleep we compensate for room temperature by using blankets – light ones if it is warm and heavy ones if it is cold. This helps us to regulate our body temperatures to assure a restful sleep. It is the same for ferrets. As a result, a ferret should have two types of beds to choose from in their cage. They can then choose which is most comfortable for them to use. Ferret beds are important to promote healthy sleeping patterns. A ferret cannot get proper rest if he is uncomfortable. This can cause health problems.
The first choice of bedding to consider is a sleep or nap sack. It provides extra warmth when needed. A sleep sack lies on the ground of the cage. There is an opening for the ferret crawl into. Some sacks have only one opening while others have one on each end. When the ferret enters the sleep sack he is surrounded by warmth and ready to sleep.
The second choice of bedding is a ferret hammock. The hammock is secured to the walls of the cage and swings freely in mid air. It provides a partially surrounded space and a partially open space. This allows the heat-sensitive ferret to cool off. Hammocks come in various configurations: shapes, sizes, and lining. Some hammocks are large enough to sleep several ferrets at the same time, as they love to snuggle together when sleeping. Some hammocks are flat, others are boot shaped. Some attach to the walls of the cage, others have stands. Hammocks serve the additional purpose of being able to be used as a step up to help your ferret reach a higher cage level. This is a safety feature as well as it protects the ferret from a long fall.
As you consider purchasing a hammock or a sleep sack for your ferret, make sure that the material is machine-washable in order to prevent the spread of disease. A tightly woven fabric works the best. If over time the sleep sack or hammock begins to fray, remove it from the cage and repair/replace it. Once damaged, a sleep sack or hammock could be a danger to your ferret. Also, when purchasing a hammock make sure that the hardware is “ferret safe”.
Purchasing a hammock for your ferret is a win-win proposition. It provides a safe environment, puts less pressure on your ferret’s body, puts him in a natural sleeping position and helps separate the cage into sleeping and non-sleeping sections.
